Ryde Rotary Honours Local Employees

(by Allen Horrell) Last Tuesday, Ryde Rotary hosted their annual “Pride of Workmanship” Awards. Once again we had a great group of five “do-ers” as Maxine was later to describe them, and an equally impressive five sponsors who put these people forward for recognition.

Gladesville Local Area Commander Phil Flogel spoke for Leading Senior Constable Simon Hack, who was appointed to lead a team that went on to arrest hundreds of drug dealers and other wrongdoers making Gladesville a safer community in the process. It was a tough job but Simon could hack it!

Then Martina Fox introduced Beth Stewart who has given Ryde Hospital the last 33 years of her life as a Pink Lady Volunteer, and has been the President of the Pink Ladies for the last 10, and raised over $26,000 for the Hospital during this time. What an example of dedication and giving back to her community!

Next up another member of the Ryde Hospital family, Joanne Uttley was praised for her dedication by Site Manager Linda Davidson. Among many other things she has done in transforming the operations of Ryde Hospital, Joanne got to spend the $26,000 that Beth and her Pink Ladies raised for her.

Maxine said later that “we have a Rolled Gold Health System in this Country” and we should be proud of it. I think it is actually Gold leaf, it is rolled so thin in places – where would we be without Beth’s $26K, and Ryde Rotary’s many donations to the same hospital over the years?

Toni Scott of the Christian Community Aid Service gave a glowing tribute to their Administration Officer Diane West who worked with their large team of carers, 80% of whom come from non-English-speaking backgrounds, but do a marvellous job in our community, caring for the less fortunate. Diane has become an expert in dealing with government agencies and helping them correct their bureaucratic errors where these have a negative impact of her clients.

Then Peter Marcon of the Eastwood LAC gave a spirited account of the work of the Eastwood policing team’s good work and in particular that of Detective Senior Constable Martin Wilson, whom he described as “the last man you would want chasing you if you had done something wrong”. I can’t think of higher praise for a Police Officer, especially from a commander of the calibre of Peter Marcon. He also addressed us as a club, praising the importance of this recognition we give to his officers each year. In her keynote speech Maxine McKew praised the Eastwood officers for their community policing, café society style! She also spoke of the society transformation brought about by people who never make it into the History books, and often do vital work without acknowledgement. But not tonight – that’s our job!

It seems incredible that this Rotary International Vocational Project started right here in our club, the brainchild of PDG Les Whitcroft, with his slogan “Do it once, Do it right!” The club’s thanks go to Burkhart Foertsch who did it right for the club again this year.

Maxine spoke very well and with heart tonight, and even I have to admit she is better looking than John Howard!

Pictured: Stefan Sojka with fellow Ryde Rotarian, Allen Horrell, hanging out with Federal Member for Bennelong, Maxine McKew at the recent 2009 Rotary “Pride of Workmanship” Awards

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